OUR COUNTRY CORRESPONDENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3305, 23 September 1873, Page 3

OUR COUNTRY CORRESPONDENCE.

Arrow.— The prospectus of a new gold mining company, “The Sons of Fortune, has just been issued. The ground is a special grant of three quarters of a mile of the bed of the Arrow river, commencing at the falls, where the sudden rise of tbe river bed admits of its being worked by a tunnel, in the same manner as a terrace claim. It has never been previously worked, owing to a landslip having covered it to a depth of 100 ft. The promoters, John A. Miller and others, spent two years in tunnelling, and had to give up for want of means. It is estimated that to continue their works to the ground from which returns may be reasonably anticipated, will only require the labor of four men for a few months, af>er which the ground can be worked by hydraulic sluicing; thus no machinery will be required, and I consider that for a mining speculation it is a very fair risk indeed. The Arrow River Company are about making a start, and I hope yet to see them make terms of amalgamation with the adjoining claim, which would, in my opinion, materially increase their chances of success. —I have taken much pairs to ascertain the latest accounts from the Shotover Company, and find them most satisfactory. The stuff obtained has averaged 60 per cent, more than tho prospectus set forth as the estimated yield. The working arrangements have not, however, (owing to the company having started late in the season) admitted of the quantity of stuff being raised necessary to show such splendid results as the mine is capable of yielding, but its prospects are of that nature that I do not like to state definitely the amount lest I might be thought to exaggerate. A report from an engineer like Mr Simpson, for instance, to advise the company on the best plan of operations might be well worth its cost, as I am inclined to think that sluicing would prove by far the more economical and who'esale method than the present system of tunnelling. Ihe total quantities of gold raised in the district during the last few months have been small, as the flood which occurred at the commencement of winter had a disastrous effect, inasmuch as the severe weather which followed did not admit of proper chances of repair. I am informed that the Queenstown Council intend to petition the General Government to open up tho country at the head of the Shotover and Arrow by tracks out of the Public Works Act in accordance with Mr Haughton’s recommendation wlien reporting on water supply.—The farmers of tho Wakatip are dissatisfied with tho prices realised for their produce last season, and are agitating among themselves for the formation of a Farmers’ Association, with a view of forming a co-operative company for the purpose of obtaining better terms and generally watching their interests.—Mr Pyke’s action in the Assembly is looked upon with satisfaction.

Tuapicka,— The contractors on the Lawrence and Tokoraairiro line are proceeding as rapidly as the scarcity of labor and the bad weather will permit. Wages rule as follows :—Quarryrnen, 10s to I Is per day ; pick and shovel men, 9s per day, and very few are obtainable at that figure. The scarcity of labor promises to be a groat drawback to the prosecution of public works, &c., during the incoming summer. Shearers signify their intention of not working in a woolshed for less than LI per hundred. At a recent meeting of stockowners in the Province, it was resolved that the price should he only 15s, so that it is evident concessions must be made on one or both sides before any work can be done.—The Government intend erecting a new courthouse at Lawrence.—Two new chum farm laborers arrived in Lawrence this week seeking work, but on being offered L6O per annum and found, promptly declined by saying, “ He be not going to work for that money.” It would take a fair wage to keep some of the recently imported in beer, if we may judge from the manner in which ihcy pour quart after quart down their capacious throats. They don’t drink in Colonial fashion; but a party of them sitting in a room or standing at a bar, order beer in a quart pot and pass it round, all drinking out of the same measure till it is exhausted ; they then have it replenished as long as their money or credit lasts. If their ability for work is as good as their drinking capacity, the public works of the Province should make rapid progress. Timr.t.